It's a Wonderful Life Shows on Stage Dec. 7 and 8 in Perry, Georgia

Theater fans in the middle Georgia area can enjoy a Christmas classic on the stage this December. The Perry Players acting troupe in Perry, Georgia, are currently holding rehearsals for their production of It's a Wonderful Life.

The play is based on the Capra's film starring James Stewart about George Bailey, a small-town dreamer whose big plans of world travel are dashed when he must take over the suffering family building and loan business after the untimely death of his father.

George begins to see himself as a failure, a good-for-nothing because it seems that everything he touches goes south and all of his best-laid plans come to nothing. To compound his problems, the town's miser and the protagonist of the story, Mr. Potter, is constantly trying to pressure George into handing the Bailey Building and Loan over to him so that he might "own" the town.

After a final screw-up and In a fit of depression on Christmas Eve, George decides to take his own life, but his suicidal plan is foiled by his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody. The lovable Clarence gives George a glimpse of what life in Bedford Falls would be like if George had never been born. The ensuing story leads to one of Hollywood's most loved finales.

The play version makes a few revisions to the original story for ease of transition from silverscreen to stage. One such change is the absence of George's father, Peter Bailey. He is mentioned in name but never actually appears. Also, the story begins with George's suicide attempt and Clarence shows George his past whereas in the film, Clarence is being shown George's past by his superiors in Heaven.

However despite these and other minor changes, the stage production retains the same memorable characters like Uncle Billy, Bert, Ernie, and of course Mary Hatch.

Perry Players is a community theater group and all of the actors and crew are volunteers. All sets and props have been built or otherwise provided by the cast and crew. The cast members range from first-timers to seasoned veterans who have put aside their spare time in order to produce a show that Middle Georgians would want to see and enjoy (perhaps more than once).

So whether you are a fan of the theater, It's a Wonderful Life, or just a fan of good Christmas entertainment this play will be the perfect outing for you and your family. If you live in the middle Georgia area and would like to attend, opening night is Friday December 7 at 8 pm with tickets costing $12. Be sure to check out the Perry Players website at www.perryplayers.org for more show times and information on obtaining season tickets and future performances. Hope to see you all at the show!